Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Dark Dueling ❯ The Tournament Begins ( Chapter 6 )

Dark Dueling

By FlikFreak

 

Chapter Six: The Tournament Begins

 

~*~

 

The sun shone brightly through the window. At first, Yugi wanted to turn over in his bed and completely ignore the blinding, cheerful light of morning and just sleep in wonderful, silent darkness for just a bit longer. After a moment, however, the sunlight got rather annoying and the boy sat up in bed, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. There was a moment of confusion as he looked around.

 

He was back in his bedroom.

 

Yugi rested his chin on his hand, pondering the day before. There was that weird light and mist, then the darkness he was floating around in, and then here he was in his own bedroom. Maybe all that was just some really weird dream, Yugi said, standing up. He stopped, however, when he felt something pat against his chest. Looking downward, he noticed that he was wearing an oddly-shaped golden pendant. Upon closer inspection, he recognized it as the completed puzzle from the day before.

 

But how did I finish it? I couldn't find that last piece… He thought about it for a moment, then simply shrugged. I guess it shouldn't matter. After all, I finished it; that's what counts. Though how he had come to wear it or even where the rope it was on came from still remained a mystery to him.

 

After quickly changing into some day clothes, Yugi stuffed his deck and duel disk into his backpack - a ritual for him now since he had been to the Den so much lately - and headed out the door, leaving a note for his grandfather explaining that he was going out with his friends. Wearing the puzzle was an odd thing now; he was used to wearing the collar on his neck as an odd fashion of his own, but a necklace was new to him. Still, he confidently made his way to the warehouse and eagerly entered the Duelist's Den, where Jounouchi was waiting.

 

“You idiot!” the blonde said, grabbing Yugi by the collar of his shirt and jerking him upward. “You ran off without even saying goodbye last night! If you had to leave you coulda told me! You had me worried sick!”

 

“Sorry,” Yugi squeaked. “I don't remember much of last night, Jounouchi…now will you put me down?”

 

There was a moment of awkward silence before Jounouchi put his friend back on the ground. “Don't do that again,” he said. “I heard something about the new tournament and I…what're you wearing?”

 

Yugi followed Jounouchi's gaze to the pendant on his neck. “It's a bit hard to explain,” he said, “And I can't tell you here.”

 

Nodding, Jounouchi followed Yugi to a rather dark corner of the Den's foyer and knelt down to his friend's eye level. “Alright, what happened?”

 

Now feeling a bit more at ease, Yugi began. “That Boss guy gave me a puzzle to finish before the end of the tournament, which gave me two weeks. I was supposed to keep it a secret, but Ryou Bakura found out. He told me that no one had ever solved it before. Last night after you left to go duel some more, I managed to finish the puzzle and there was only one piece left to put in, but the last piece wasn't there. Long story short, I overheard some of the staff saying that they hid the last piece from me. Some weird shadows controlled me and showed me where the last piece was, so I put it into the puzzle and finished it. Then there was this weird light and this really dark mist, and I passed out after that. This morning I woke up in my bedroom and I was wearing the puzzle like a pendant.”

 

Jounouchi stared blankly at his friend. “You're kidding me, right?”

 

“Of course not!” Yugi protested. “It's true!” He held up the puzzle as though to prove his point.

 

“I'm not sure if I can believe you,” The blonde replied, shaking his head, “But you're my friend, so I'll take your word for it.”

 

Yugi smiled weakly. “Thanks, Jounouchi.”

 

The boy shook his head. “I'm not saying I don't doubt you…this is a bit far-fetched, you know.” He looked away. “The start of the tournament is today. Let's head to the main hall.”

 

Nodding reluctantly, Yugi followed Jounouchi to the main hall. Once there, they were pushed into the crowd, where everyone was whispering in anticipation. As though on instinct, Yugi pulled his jacket over the puzzle around his neck and zipped it closed, somehow feeling uncomfortable with it being visible. The crowd eventually began to hush, and Boss walked onto the platform, backed by two dark-cloaked men…men that Yugi recognized.

 

“Welcome, Duelists, to the Duelist's Den!” Boss announced. “We have a very special announcement to make about the tournament beginning today, which happens to be the very first Den-Duel tournament we have ever held. Before there have only been quick-matches of this style of dueling, and I hope you are all looking forward to the new event: The Cryptic Cup!”

 

A roar erupted through the crowd as nearly every single duelist cheered. Jounouchi even seemed excited, but for some reason Yugi remained completely calm. Sure, he was enthusiastic, albeit not quite as much as the rest of the crowd, but something wasn't right here. Why did he suddenly feel so suspicious of these Den Duels? They looked like fun, so why was something so…off? He just couldn't lay his finger on it…

 

Boss held a hand up momentarily to calm the crowd. “Each Den Duel will be monitored by our Electronic Referees. When entering a Den Duel intended for the tournament, we ask that you present this fact before the duel starts. Standard rules will be in play for each Den Duel for the tournament running. The first eight contestants remaining after the preliminary rounds end on Wednesday will proceed to the final rounds. The prize for this tournament, of course, is top-secret, and will be revealed when the final rounds begin.”

 

Whispers erupted in the crowd, and Yugi felt a foreign, growing suspicion at Boss's words, narrowing his eyes a bit when the man spared him a glance. He knew something was fishy about the man, but he couldn't discern as to what exactly it was. Something in him wanted to lash out at the man violently, but such feeling was faint and shoved into the corner of his mind and he barely noticed.

 

“I now announce the start of the Cryptic Cup!” Boss said, opening his arms wide. “Best of luck to you all, and may the finest Duelist win!”

 

The crowd cheered as Boss walked off, and many of the duelists made immediately for the arenas. Yugi found a bench nearby and pulled out his deck, quickly sorting through it.

 

I really want to compete in this tournament, he thought. It sounds like fun, but something about this whole Den Dueling thing doesn't seem right. I guess the only way to find out is to play through the tournament and see for myself.

 

It was a risk, but Yugi knew that somehow that was his only way of finding out.

 

~*~

 

That accursed man couldn't have found out…maybe it's just a coincidence. Even if it is, I must be careful.

 

This boy's interest in games may prove useful to me. This tournament utilizes that forbidden game. These poor youths have no idea that those monsters are actually…no, I cannot grow attached to them. My time in this world is only until I set things right. This boy I have chosen is the key. Even so, I must not grow attached to him, either. I still fear for his safety, however, since his safety is my own.

 

It won't be long before he becomes suspicious of my presence. The power of the shadows is beginning to manifest within him, and no doubt the side effects of such power are already beginning to show. They will only grow more prominent if I remain in hiding like this, but if that man knows of me, then I will revert to my previous state, not to mention that it is by this dark power that the boy is protected from that man's schemes.

 

This boy's safety depends on my seclusion…but that seclusion can also put him in danger. Eventually, I will have to appear to him…but by then he should have enough power to defend himself. I will not let another host slip through my fingers. I have to make things right before it is too late, or it will be more than just the boy's safety that I will have to worry about…